Find accurate, official guidance on flight delay compensation rights from the Civil Aviation Authority and GOV.UK.
Need free advice? Citizens Advice — citizensadvice.org.uk or call 0800 144 8848 in England (free).
Need a solicitor? Law Society — Find a Solicitor.
How much compensation can I claim for a delayed flight?
Under UK261 the amounts are £220 for flights under 1,500km, £350 for 1,500–3,500km, and £520 for flights over 3,500km — reduced to £260 where the delay is between 3 and 4 hours.
Which flights are covered by UK261?
Flights departing a UK airport on any carrier, and flights arriving in the UK on a UK or EU carrier.
How late does my flight need to be?
You must reach your final destination three or more hours late to qualify for compensation. If the delay reaches five hours or more you can choose a refund instead.
What is the 'extraordinary circumstances' rule?
It is a defence the airline can raise, not an automatic exclusion. The airline has to establish it. Your right to care — meals, refreshments and accommodation if you are kept overnight — applies regardless.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
Six years in England and Wales. The Civil Aviation Authority enforces the rules.
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Under UK261, you may be entitled to fixed compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight — the amount depends on flight distance and length of delay, ranging from £220 to £520, provided the airline was responsible and it wasn't caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, and security risks generally qualify as extraordinary and exempt the airline from paying compensation — but routine technical faults and most staffing issues generally don't qualify, since these are considered within the airline's normal operational control.
Separately from fixed compensation, airlines must provide care during a long delay — meals, refreshments, and accommodation if an overnight stay is needed — regardless of whether the delay itself ultimately qualifies for compensation.
UK Work Rights provides free, plain English guidance to help you understand where you stand. Each checker answers only from its own guide for your part of the UK, checked against official sources. We cover 67 free AI rights checkers, with guides for each part of the UK, across employment, housing, benefits, consumer, driving, family and more.
Our guidance covers many common situations, but complex or high-stakes cases need professional advice. Official information: Civil Aviation Authority: delays and cancellations. For free help, contact Citizens Advice (England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020), Citizens Advice Scotland (0800 028 1456) or Advice NI (0800 915 4604), or speak to a solicitor.
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Include the airports, the airline, how late you arrived or when you were told about the cancellation, the reason the airline gave, and how many passengers are on the booking.
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